Web controlling mechanism



Feb. 14, 1933.' H.`FANKB0NER WEB GONTOLLING MECHANSM Filed'. nec.' 4,1929 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 I ENTOR.

- C AT;ZRNEY Feb. 14, 1933. H. FANKBQNER WEB' coNTRoLLING uzcxmrsu 6Sheets-Sheet .'5

Filed Dec. 4. 1929 Mnl n NEA/TOR. l'

Feb.,14, 1933. H. FANKBONER WEB COTROLLING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 4, 19296 Sheets-Sheet 5 I ENTOR.

ATT RNEY Feb. 14, 1933. H. FANKBONER' 1,897,504.

WEB CONTROLLING MECHANISM' Filed Dec. 4, 1929 vesI sheets-sheep i'gl/Ewan.

Patented Feb. 14, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HARLAND FANKBONER, FCHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 THE GOSS PRINTING PRESS COMPANY, ACORPORATION 0F ILLINOIS WEB CONTROLLING MECHANISM Application filedDecember 4, 1929.` Serial No. 411,472.

This invention relates to novel and' im proved Web controlling mechanismand more particularly to mechanism for automatically controlling thetension of a web as it is drawn from a Web roll and fed'to a web usingmachine, such as a printing press.

Objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in parthereinafter and in part will be obvious herefrom, or may be 'i learnedby practice Withthe invention, the sa;nc being realized and attained bymeans of the instrumentalities and combinations pointed out in theappended claims.

The invention consists in the novel parts, construction, arrangements,and improvements herein' shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and constituting a parthereof, illus.- 3 trate one embodiment of the invention, and

together with the description, serve to eX- plain the principles of theinvention.

Of the drawings:

, Fig. l is a side elevation of an illustrative J embodiment of theinvention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1 and lookingfrom the left of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail horizontal T? section taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a detailed fragmentary section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig.8;

Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating the elecr, trical connections of themechanism shown m Fig. 1;

F ig. (5 is a side elevation of mechanism illustrating a modified formof the invention;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary front elevation of a portion of the mechanismshown in Fig. 6;

Fi 8 is a diagram showing theele'ctrical connections of the mechanismillustrated in 6; and

F ig. 9 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a further modification forusel in connection with a ph'irality of Web rolls.

Thel present inventionhas for its object the provilon of a web tensioncontrolling mechanism by which the tension of the web, as itcombinations f is drawn from the web roll and fed to the web usingmachine, such as a printing press, can be accurately and continuouslycontrolled, and` maintained substantially constant.

The present invention also provides a `web controlling mechanism. bywhich the web tension is controlled by a braking force preferablyapplied directly to the periphery of the web roll, the braking forceapplied tothe periphery of the web being instantly responsive to thetension of the web and constantly controlled by the tension of the Webas it is fed from the web roll to the printing press or other web usingmachine.

A further object ofthe invention is the provision of a web controllingmechanism by which the braking force applied to the web roll can besuihciently increased to quickly stop the rotation ofthe web roll, inthe event that the web breaks, or the printing press is brought to astop, thereby dissipating the momentum of the Web roll and preventingthe unrolling of large quantities of the web.

According to the present preferred embodiment of the invention, the webroll, from which the web of paper or similar material is fed to theprinting press or other web using machine, is rotatably supportedadjacent to the web using machine and rotates with the periphery of theweb roll in contact with a stationary friction member, such as aflexiblebelt, causing a drag on the surface of the web roll andproducing the necessary Web tension. Means are also preferably providedfor varying the pressure with which the friction member is pressedagainst the periphery of the web roll, and as embodied there is provideda pilot roller, suitably eonnected with the friction member and placedbetween the web roll and the web using machine and around which Vthe webis looped as it is fed from the web roll to the printing4 press or otherweb using machine, so that variations in the tension of the web causecorresponding 'variations in the posltipn of the pilot roller, themovement of`wh1ch 1s transmitted to the friction members to vary theirpressure against the periphery ofthe web roll and thereby control thetension of the web.

Means are also preferably provided for automatically maintaining theflexible belts or other friction members in engagement with theperiphery of the web roll, so that as the web roll wears down during theoperation of the web using machine the flexible belts will continue toexert the web roll braking force. In one of the present embodiments, oneend of the flexible friction belts vao is attached to a rotatable rollerconnected with a motor to rotate the roller winding up or unwindin thebelts from the roller, the movement o the motor, and consequently of theroller and belts, being controlled by the tension of the web as it isfed to the web using machine. Means are also provided for controllingthe movement of the motordriven roller, so that abrupt or abnormalchanges in the tension of the web will operate the motor driven rollerto decrease the web tension in case the web tension becomes too great,or will'operate to quickly increase the web tension in case the webbreaks, or the webusing machine is stopped. Means are also preferablyprovided for preventing the belt controlling motor being brought intooperation by small changes in the tension of the web, thereby preventinghunting of the motor and providing a more stable system than wouldotherwise be the case.

Means are also preferably provided for manually controlling theoperation of the motor to permit the mechanism to be readily brought toany desired position or adjustment, and for manually positioning the webroll in starting position. Preferably, and as embodied, means areprovided whereby the pressure exerted by the friction members on the webroll is automatically limited and can never exceed a predeterminedvalue, thereby preventing excessive operation of the belt controllingmotor and consequent injury to the mechanism.

According to a modified embodiment of the invention, means are providedfor minutely and continuously controlling the tension of the web, as itis fed from the web roll to the printing press, by means of a pilotroller directly connected with the friction members engaging theperiphery of the web roll, and other means are provided forautomatically moving the web roll toward and away from the frictionmembers to vary the force with which' it is ressed against the frictionmembers, thereliiy maintainin engagement with the frictlon members,maintaining the braking force and the web tension substantially constantunder normal operating conditions, at the same time providing forrelatively large variations in the braking V force to compensate forabnormaloperation conditions. Y

Preferably, andas embodled, the autothe web roll in matic movement ofthe web roll is controlled by the tension of the web, through the mediumof the pilot roller, and means are provided for quickl force applied tote periphery of the web roll to stop the rotation of the web roll in casethe web breaks or the web using machine is brought to a stop. Othermeans are provided for manually controlling the position of the webroll, for initially positioning the web roll supporting members, and formovingl them from their position at the time a web roll is exhausted totheir position for the reception of a new web roll, and means arepreferably provided` for automatically limiting the movement of the webroll for preventin'g its movement beyond predetermined positions. i

In-this modified embodiment of the invention, means are provided wherebythe braking force is automatically limited and only a predeterminedamount of pressure can be exerted between the friction members and theweb roll.

The present invention, although 4principally shown for use in connectionwith a single web roll, can be easily adapted for use` in connectionwith a plurality of web rolls to control the braking force applied tothe web rolls and the tension of the web as it is alternatively drawnfrom one of the plurality of'web rolls.

The remaining objects andi features will be set out later in connectionwith the detailed description, and it will be understood that theforegoing and also the following description is explanatory andexamplary and is not restrictive of the invention.

Referring now in detail to the present pre- 1 ferred embodiment of theinvention as illustrated by Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings,a web roll of paper or other similar material for supplying the printingpress or other web using machine.; is provided and may be of the desiredwidth, either four pages wide or of fractional width, dependent on theproduct to be produced by the printing press. Web roll 10 is rotatablysupported adjacent to and preferably parallel with the printingcylinders of the printing press by means of shaft 12, passing throughtheaxial aperture of the web roll, and rotatably journalled at eitherend in bearmgs 14 formed at the upper ends of web roll supporting arms15 and 16 mounted on supporting shaft 17 extending transversely of theweb using machine. Web roll supporting arms 15 and 16 are preferablyslidably keyed to supporting shaft 17 by means of keys 18.Supportingshaft- 17 extending transversely of thepress frame, isrotatably mounted near llo ' 17 and concentric therewith, and as hanleasably held in the desired relation with respect to the side frames ofthe press and axial. ly of the shaft 17 by means of set screws 20, whichreleasably clamp the lower ends of the web roll supporting arms to the'supporting shaft 17. lVhen fractional width web rolls are employedeither or both web roll supporting arms and 16 can be moved closertogether to accommodate the fractional width web rolls and to positionthese rolls at the desired place relative to the side frames 19 and theprinting cylinders of the press. Preferably the web roll supporting armsare so positioned axially of their supporting shaft that the distancebetween them is only slightly more than sufficient to accommodate thewidth of the web rolls and the bungs 21 at either end of the web roll,thereby preventing endwise movement of the web roll as it rotates.

For raising and lowering` the web roll lO, as it is rotatably supportedby means of the web roll supporting arms 15 and 16 and support-ing shaft17, there is provided a hand crank 22 rotatably mounted at the outerside of upright 19 of the side frame of the press and fastened to bevelgear 24 by means of stub shaft 26. Bevel `gear 24 meshes with a secondbevel gear 27, connected with worm 28 by means of shaft 29 rotatablyjournalled on the side frame 19 of the press by means of bearings 30formed in the laterally extending bracket 31. Worm 28 meshes with Wormgear segment 33 keyed to supporting shaft crank 22 is moved, worm 28 andworm gear 33 are driven to raise 7or lower the web roll supporting arms15 and 16 as well as the web roll rotatably supported thereby.

Preferably, means are provided for registering the web drawn from theweb roll with the web using machine, and in the pres-v ent embodiment,means are provided for axially moving the web roll supporting arms inunison from one side of press frame toward the other. In theillustrative embodiment, one end of the supporting shaft 17 is providedwith a screw threaded extension 40,

axially7 alined therewith` and threadedly en-A gaging a collar 41rotatably mounted in housing 42'atthe side of the press frame` thecollar being held against axial movement by means of an annular member43, rigid with respect to the side frame. 19 and engaging a groove 44 inthe collar 41. Supporting shaft 17 is slidably keyed to the segmentalworm gear 33,

and the segment is held against axial movement by kmeans of the outsideof the side frame 19 and the inner face of collar 41,'between which thehub of the segmental worm gear 33 is closely fitted. At its outer end,collar 4l is provided with an integral hand wheel 46 by which collar 41can be easily turned to pull the supporting shaft towards the collar, orto push the lshaft away from the collar, thereby effecting the desiredaxial movement of the web roll and registering the web with the printingcylinders of the press, as desired.

The tension on the web is created by the application of a braking forceto the web roll as the web is unrolled and fed to the webusing machine,and in the illustrative embodiment, means are provided for pressingagainst and frictionally engaging the periphery of the webroll, andthese means preferably comprise a plurality of exible belts supportedadjacent to and pressed into contact with the periphery of the web roll,the tension of the web being determined by the pressure with which theyare pressed against the web roll. As embodied, there is provided aplurality, (preferably one for each page width of the web) of relativelynarrow spaced-apart flexible belts 50, which may be conveniently formedof leather, textile fabric or thin strips of metal, extendingtransversely of the axis of the web roll and attached at their lowerends to an anchoring support located beneath the web lroll, and at theirupper ends to a movable support. the points of attachment of theflexible belts and the axis of the web roll preferably lying insubstantially a straight line, so that the flexible` belts can bestretched into Contact with the periphery of even the smallest stub of aweb roll.

' In the preferred embodiment, the lower d ends of the flexible beltsare attached to -rollers 52, and the upper ends of the belt are attachedto shaft 54 by means of individual turnbuckles 55, thereby permittingthe effect-ive length of all the belts to be equalized Vso each willengage the periphery of the web roll with equal pressure. -Shaft 54, towhich the upper ends of the flexible belts are attached, is supported atits ends by bell cranks 56, rigidly secured in fixed relation to eachother on shaft 57 journalled in brackets 58 extending from the uprightmembers 19 at either side of the press frame.

Means are provided for automatically and continuously: varying thepressure with which the friction members are pressed into contact withthe periphery of the web rolls and for automatically controlling thispresbetween the web roll and the printing press,

'the pilot roller being movable in accordance with changes in thetension of the web a'id transmitting its motion directly to frictionmembers 50 engaging the periphery of the web roll to vary theirpressureagainst the web roll. Pilot roller 65, mounted on shaft 66,-isrotatably journalled by this shaft in bearing blocks 67 which areslidably mounted in the slideway 68 formed by parallel rails 69extending from the upright portion 19 of the press frame andtransversely of the pilot roller. The ends of the pilot roller shaft 66extend slightly beyond the bearing blocks 67 and are engaged Aby theelongated slots 70 formed at the upper ends of levers 72 which aresecurely keyed to the ends of shaft 73 journalled at the side ofuprights 19, to hold the levers in fixed relation to each other forsimultaneous and uniform movement, thereby preventing either end of thepilot roller 65 from moving to a different extent than the other end ofthe roller. Pilot roller 65 is connected with the flexible beltsupporting shaft 54, and the movements of the pilot roller aretransmitted to the belts by means of links 75 pivotally connected withand extending between the lower ends of the levers 72 and the dependingportions of the bell cranks 56.

For normally positioning the pilot roller, and for opposing the tensionof the web as it passes around the pilot roller, there is preferablyprovided a relatively long compression spring 78 at each end of thepilot roller 65 and held in place between one end of each slideway 68and the bearing block 67 of the corresponding end of the pilot roller.As the tension on the web is increased, Spring 78 is compressed and adiminution in the tension of the web permits the springs to move thepilot roller 65 in the opposite direction. In Figures l and 5, the.pilot roller is normally moved to the left by the tension of the we'and against the compression of spring 78 a it passes from the web rollto the print- -ing press, the position of the pilot roller being alwaysdetermined by the balancing of the' web tension against the compressionspring. A movement'to the left of the pilot roller 65 results in alowering of the upper ends of the flexible belts 50 and a correspondingdecrease in the braking force applied to the periphery of the web, and amovement to the right of the pilot roller similarly causes an increasein the pressure between the ilexible belts and the periphery of the webroll.

Means are provided for maintaining the friction members, or flexiblebelts in operative contact with the periphery of the web roll andpressing thereagainst so that they will respond to the movements of thepilot roller to automatically vary the tension of the web under abnormalconditions, or to automatically maintain the tension of the websubstantially constant under normal operating conditions. These meansare also operative to produce relatively large changes in the brakingforce to meet the-needs of abnormal operating conditions,such as arisewhen the web is broken. As embodied, the

lower ends of the flexible belts 50 are securely fastened to theperiphery of rollers 52 rotatably mounted directly underneath the webroll and are adapted to be wound on and unwound from the web roll by theturning thereof. Rollers 52 are mounted on shaftv ment, pilot roller 65is connected with a reversing switch 87 by means of switch actuating rod88, pivotally connected with the lever 72, and as pilot roller is movedby the action of the compression springs 78, or by lthe tension of theweb, the switch actuating rod 88 is similarly moved back and forth tomove the motor switch 87 to circuit closinfr. opening or reversingposition.

Motor controlling switch 87 may be of any convenient and suitable form,and is Shown as comprising a pair of spaced contacts 89 and 90 connectedto one side of the power line 91, and a third contact 92, intermediatethe first two, and connected to the other side 93 of the power line. Thetwo leads 94 and 95 to the reversible motor are connected to contacts 96and 97 movable by rod 88 and are adapted to contact with cont-act 89 andcontact 92 or 92 and 90 respectively, thereby determining the directionof rotation of the motor. Contacts 89, 90 and 92 are suitably spaced sothat they will normally be out of Y its normal position and moving thecontacts 96 and 97 to open circuit position.

To reduce the frequency of operation of the motor, and prevent hunting,by rendering the motor controlling switch less sensitive to smallchanges in the web tension, movable contact 97 is loosely mounted withrespect to switch actuating rod 88, and can slide on rod 88 between pins99 and 100. In this manner, pilot roller 65 is free to move aconsiderable distance without changing the o erative relation ofcontacts 97 and 90, or 97 and 92, and when the motor is energized, it isheld on until pilot roller 65, and the length of flexible belts 50, havebeen moved somewhat more than is necessary, the excess change beingtaken care of by suitable movement of the pilot roller. Specifically, aspilot roller 35 moves to the left to slacken the tension of the web,contact 97 is moved into contact with contact 92 by means of pin 100,thereby energizing the motor 85, and the motor continues to unwind thelower ends of flexible belts until the web is sulficiently slackened toallow the pilot roller to move to the right a sufficient distance tocause pin 99 to move contact 97 away from contact 92. This tends to morestable operation and allows small changes in web tension to becompensated for by the pilot roller acting alone and directly on thebelts, reserving the operation of the motor for larger changes in webtension, and for movement of the belts to keep them in contact with theperiphery of the web roll as the roll is worn-down.

As embodied, the above-described mechanism alsoprovides forautomatically stopping the operation of the motor 85, after it hasincreased the pressure between the friction members 50 and the peripheryof the web roll a predetermined amount, thereby preventing the buildingup of a too great pressure which might result in damage to themechanism. rThis function of the apparatus is particularly desirableinasmuch as it allows the web roll to be stopped very rapidly when theweb breaks, and at the same time limits the operation of beltcontrolling motor 85 by the pressure exerted by the belts. llith thepresent form of the mechanism, a

' break in the web allows spring 78. to throw the pilot roller to theright, connecting contacts 96 and 92 and contacts 97 and 90, therebyenergizing the motor to wind up the lower end of the belts and increasethe braking force applied to web roll 10. At the same time, the upperend of the friction belts is pulled upward by bell-cranks 56 to increasethe braking force tending to stop the rotation of the web roll, and thiscombined action quickly stops the rotation of the web roll. As motor 85continues to rotate, the flexible belts 50 are wound up on rollers 52,and when the pressure between them' and web roll 10 exceeds apredetermined amount, flexible belts 50 pull down on bell crank 56 andmove pilot roller to the left, thereby opening the motor circuit andpreventing further' increase in the belt tension.

Manually operable means are provided for controlling the belt tensioningmotor, permitting the flexible belts to be wound or unwound von theroller independently of the operation of the pilot roller, this portionof the mechanism finding its principal use in connection with theinitial setting of the flexible belts during the replacement 'of anexhausted web roll with a new web roll. In the present embodiment, thereis provided a manually operable double-pole double-throw switch 102 bywhich the pilot roller controlled switch 87 can be cut out of the motorcircuit and the power fed directly to motor 85, the direction ofrotation of the motor being controlled by the manually operablereversing switch 103. Preferably, and as shown, the manually operableswitches 102 and 103 are mounted on the side frame 23 of the press wherethey can be conveniently reached by the operator during the web rollreplenishing operations.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate a modified embodiment of the invention inwhich the web roll is automatically raised and lowered to vary thepressure exerted by the flexible belts against the periphery of the webroll, and the flexible belts are preferably controlled only by the pilotroller acting directly on one end of the flexible belts.

ln this embodiment of the invention, the web roll 110 is rotatablysupported at one end of the press frame by means of web roll shaft 111rotatably journalled in the web roll supporting arms 112, slidably keyedto the l supporting shaft 113, which, in turn', is' rotatably mounted inthe side frames 114 of the printing press, or other web-using machine.Supporting arms 112 are releasably held in their adjusted position bymeans of set screws 115 which can be released to allow the arms 112 tobe moved axially of supporting shaft 113 to accommodate web rolls ofdiffcrentwidths. A. hand wheel 116, cooperatingwith suitable threadedmeans 117, similar to that already described in connection with theforegoing modification, is also provided for laterally registering thewe with the printing cylinders ofthe printing press as the web is fedfrom tlie web roll.

For tensioning the web as it is fed from the web roll to the printingpress or other web-using machine, there are provided a plurality ofspaced apart friction members, such as flexible belts 120 engageablewith the periphery ofthe web roll 110 and securely fastened at theirlower ends to the anchor shaft 121 located directly beneath the webroll. At their upper ends, flexible belts 120 are individually fastenedto shaft 123, extending across the machine and between side frames 114,by means of turn buckles 125, which allow the flexible belts to beindividually adj usted to equalize their length and the pressure withwhich eachpresses against the periphery of the web roll.

l For continuously and minutely controlling the pressure exerted by theflexible belts against the web roll in accordance'with the tension ofthe web and thereby rendering the tension of the web substantiallyconstant, the flexible belts 120, are directly connected with pilotroller 127 for movement thereby. Pilot roller 127 is rotatablyjournalled at its ends in bearing blocks 128 slidable along slideway 129extending outwardly from the upright 130 of the press frame 114, and theends of the roller shaft 132 fit within the slot 133 at bioo the up rend of either lever 134 keyed to and pivot y mounted by shaft 135extending transversely of the press frame.

Links 136 are pivotally connected with the lower ends of levers 134 andextend to and are pivotally connected with the lower ends of bell cranks137, keyed to and ivotally mounted in brackets 138 on the side of thepress by means of shaft 140. Bell cranks 137, at their outer ends, carrythe flexible beltsupporting shaft 123 and raise or lower the upper e'ndsof flexible belts 120 in accordance with the movement of pilot roller127. For opposing the action of the web tension, as the web passesaround the pilot roller in going to the printing press or otherweb-using machine, there are provided compression springs 141 fastenedin the slideways 129, between the bearing blocks 128 and the ends of theslideways adjacent to the press frame 130, thereby normally tending tomove pilot roller 127 to the right, while the tension of the web tendsto move the pilot roller to the left.

Means are provided for normally maintaining the web roll in contact withthe flexible belts and pressing against the flexible belts withsuiiicient force to eii'ect the necessary and desired braking action onthe web roll,

and, as embodied, there is provided a web roll controlling motor 145geared to worm 146 and mounted on the upright 130 of the press frame.Worm 146 is rotatably journalled in bearings 147 attached to the sideframe of the press and meshes with a segmental worm gear 148 keyed tothe supporting shaft 113 on Vwhich the web roll is supported by arms112, and as motor 145 rotates,

arms 112 and the web roll are raised or lowered, dependent on thedirection of rotation of the motor.

Means are provided for controlling the rotation of the web rollcontrolling motor 145, to raise the web roll 110 as the roll wears downand thereby keep the web roll in contact with the flexible belts 120, orfor lowering the web roll to slacken the tension on the web, should itbecome too great. As embodied, there is provided a motor controlling andreversing switch 149 directly connected to pilot roller 127 by switchactuating rod 149', and movable thereby to close or open the motorcircuit or to reverse the motor in accordance with the web tension. Thismotor controlling and reversing switch may be generally the same as thatpreviously describedin connection with Figure 45, and preferablycomprises a pair of spaced apart contacts 150, 151 connected with oneside of the power line 152, a third contact 153 connected with the otherside of the power line 152, and a pair of movable contacts 154 and 155connected with the motor leads 156 and-157 and movable into and out ofcontact with contacts 150, 151 and 153, to open, close or reverse themotor circuit. For preventing the operation of the motor motor willoperate to raise the web roll yand increase the pressure between the webroll and ilexible'belts 120, and on further operation, will exert adownward pull on bell cranks 137 until the pilot roller has beensufficiently moved to the left to open the motor circuit and stop themotor.

For limiting the upward movement of the web roll and for preventing theweb roll being moved beyond a predetermined upright position, a cnt outswitch is provided in the motor circuit, adapted to be actuated by anymovement of the web roll beyond a predetermined point. As embodied,there is provided a switch 160, in series with the motor circuit,

and mounted on the side frame 114 of the press and having a pivotedactuating arm 161 extending into the path of the segmental worm gear 148and adapted to contact therewith on excessive movement of the gear. Bythis construction, it is impossible for the motor to be energizedwhenever arm 161 is moved from its normal closed-circuit position.

As in the previously-described embodiment, means are provided formanually controlling and reversing the operation of the web rollpositioning motor 145, and with the present embodiment, there isprovided a double throw switch 163 in the motor circuit, by which 'pilotroller-operated switch 148 can be thrown out of circuit, and the powercan be transmitted directly to motor 145, through reversing switch 165.

The present invention is readily adapted for use in connection withA thetension control of a plurality of optionally usable web roll supports,to control the tension of the web as it is fed from one or the other ofthe web rolls. Figure 9 shows diagrammatically the general type of webtension control mechanism as applied to a web roll support for a pair ofweb rolls, the web being fed alternatively from one or the other of theweb rolls.

As embodied, there are provided a pair of web roll supports 170 and 171of the general type illustrated in Figures 6 to 8, these web rollsupports being arranged adjacent to and parallel with each other, andeach being adapted to rotatably support a web roll 172 and 17 3'of fullor partial width.

For tensioning the web, as it is drawn from one of the web rolls, thereare provided friction members, such as flexible belts 174 and 175,engaging the periphery 'of each of the web rolls, the lower ends ofthese belts beingsccnrely fastened to a fixed support as at 17 6. rl`heupper ends ofthe flexible 'belts are connected to bell cranks 178, and179, which in turn are connected with the pilot roller 180 by means ofpivoted lever 181 and link 182 to control the tension of the belts andthe braking action on the web rolls in accordance with the tension onthe web. For raising and lowering web rolls 172 and 173, thereare-provided motors 183 and 184 geared therewith and controlled by pilotroller-controlled switch 185 in the manner more fully pointed ont above.For connecting either of the two motors with pilot roller controlledswitch 185 and to provide the automatic control for the motor'associated with the web roll from which the web is being drawn, thereis provided a manually operable switch 186, in circuit with each of themotors and with the switch, and adapted to alternately connect switch185 with either motor. Duplicatemanually operable controlling andreversing switches 187 and 188 are provided, one for each motor, and canbe operated to manually control the movement of the web rolls, or webroll supports 17 0 and 171 to bring them to the desired position. Forautomatically limiting the downward movement of the web roll by motor183 or 184 there is provided a series switch 189 opened by extremedownward movement of the web roll supporting arms. lifter switch 189 hasopened to stop motor 188 or 18a the manual switch can be thrown open andon closing switch 187, the web roll will be raised into contact with theflexible belts 174tor 175.

rlhe invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What l' lclaim is 1. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as it isdrawn from a web roll, the combina tion of a web roll support, a webroll engaging friction member, a pilot roller connected to one end ofthe friction member and means for variably pressing the belt against theweb roll and controlled by the pilot roller` for maintaining the webtension constant including motor means for moving the web roll withrespect to the friction member t'o maintain the web roll in engagementwith the friction member.

2. In a mechanism for tensioningthe web as it is drawn from a web roll,the combination of a stationary friction belt engageable with theperiphery of the web roll, a pilot roller connected to one end of thefriction member and means, connected to the other c end of the frictionmember, controlled by the pilot roller for variably pressing the beltagainst the web roll to maintain the web tension constant.

3. ln a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a web roll,the combination of a stationary friction belt engageable with theperiphery of the web roll a pilot roller connected to one end of thefriction member and means controlled by the pilot roller for moving theweb roll with respect to the belt.

Il. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a webroll, the combination of a friction belt engageable with the web roll, apilot roller connected with the belt, a motor connected to the other endof the belt to press the belt against the web roll, means forcontrolling the motor by the roller, whereby the tension is controlledby the pilot roller.

5. ln' a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a webroll, the combination of a friction belt engaging the periphery of theweb roll to tension the web, motor means directly connected to said beltfor relatively moving the belt and roll to press the belt against theroll and a pilot roller for variably pressing the belt against the webroll in accordance with the tension of the web to maintain the tensionconstant.

6. ln a mechanism for tensioningr the web as it is drawn from a webroll, the combination of a friction belt engaging the periphery of theweb roll, a pilot roller moved by changes in the tension of the web,motorv means controlled by the pilot roller for relatively moving theweb roll into Contact with the belt and a direct mechanical connectionbetween the belt and pilot roller f or variably pressing the beltagainst the web roll to maintain the tension constant.

7. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a web roll,the combination of a friction member engaging the periphery of the webroll, a pilot roller movable in accordance with the web tension, meansfor progressively moving the friction member to maintain it in contactwith the web roll asA the web roll wears down, means for variablypressing the friction member against the web roll and directlvcontrolled bv the pilot roller to maintain the tension constant.

8. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a web roll,the combination of a pilot roller, a friction belt engaging theperiphery of the web roll and connected at one end to the pilot roller,and means connected to the other end of the belt and controlled by thepilot roller for variably pressing the belt against the web roll. l

9. In a mechanismv for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a webroll, the combination of a stationary friction member engageable withthe periphery of the web roll, an intermittently energized motor forvariably pressing the belt against the web roll and for maintaining theweb roll in engagement with thel belt, and means operable to prevent themotor pressing the belt too tightly against the Web roll.

10. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a Webroll, the combination of a stationary friction member engageable Withthe periphery of the web roll, an intermittently energized motor forvariably pressing the belt against the Web roll and for maintainirngrthe web roll in engagement with the belt, and manually controlled meansfor energizing the motor to vary the relative position of the Web rolland the friction belt.

11. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as itis drawn from a web roll,the combinaand manually controlled means for energizing the motor tovary the relative position of the Web roll ancl the friction belt.

12. ln a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a Webroll, the coinbination of a stationary friction member engageable withthe periphery of the web roll, an intermittently energized motor forvariably pressing the belt against the web roll and for maintaining theWeb roll in engagement With the belt, a pilot roller and means Aconnecting the pilot roller andthe belt for variably pressing the beltagainst the Web roll to maintain the web tension constant.

13. ln a mechanism for tensioning the Web as it is drawn from a webroll, the combination of a stationary friction member engageable withthe periphery of the web roll, a motor for variably pressing the beltagainst the web roll and for maintaining the Web roll in engagement withthe belt, a pilot roller controlling the motor, means connecting thepilot roller and the belt for variably press ing the belt against theWeb roll to maintain the web tension constant, and means 0perable toprevent the motor pressing the belt too tightly against the web roll.

14. in a mechanism for tensioning the Web as it is drawn from a webroll, the combination of a stationary friction member engageable withthe periphery of the web roll, a motor for variably pressing the beltagainst the Web roll and for maintaining the Web roll in engagement withthe belt, a pilot roller controlling the motor, means connecting thepilot roller and the belt for variably pressing the belt against the Webroll to maintain the Web tension constant, and manually controlled meansfor energizing the motor to vary the relative position of the Web rolland the friction belt.

- 15. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as it 1s drawn from a Webroll, the combinaas it is drawn from a web roll, the combina.--

tion of a. stationary friction member engageable with the periphery ofthe web roll, a motor for variably pressing the belt against the webroll and for maintaining the web roll in engagement with the belt, apilot roller controlling the motor, means connecting the pilot rollerand the belt for variabiy press ing the belt against the web roll tomaintain the Web tension constant, means operable to revent the motorpressing the belt too tighty against the web roll, and manuallycontrolled means for energizing the motor to vary the relative positionof the web roll and the friction belt.

17. In a mechanism for tensioning the web as it is drawn from a Webroll, the combination of a stationary friction member engageable Withthe periphery of the web roll, a motor for variably pressing the beltagainst the web roll and for maintaining the web roll in engagement withthc belt, av pilot roller controlling the motor, means connecting thepilot roller and the belt for variably pressing the belt against the webroll to maintain the web tension constant, means operable to prevent themotor pressing the belt too tightly against the web roll, manuallycontrolled means for energizing the motor to vary the relative positionof the Web roll and the friction belt, and means for preventingoperation of the motor` With undue fre- 'quency 18. In a `Webcontrolling mechanism, a web roll support, a friction belt to bearagainst the web roll and tension the web, a pilot roller moved by theweb as the Web is drawn from the Web roll, a motor connected with thefriction belt and controlled by the pilot rollerl and adapted to beenergized on changes in web tension to move the belts and means directlyconnecting the pilot roller and belt to maintain the Web tensionsubstantially constant.

19. lVeb tension and controlling means inclucling in combination meansfor rotatably supporting a rotatable Web roll, friction belts engagingthe periphery of the web roll toV tension the Web drawn therefrom, apilot roller connected to one end of the friction belts and a motorcontrolled by the pilot roller and connected to the other end of thebelts, said pilot roller and motor cooperating to maintain the belts incontact With the periphery of the web' roll and to maintain the webtension constant.

20. Web tension and controlling means including in combination means forrotatably supporting a rotatable web roll, friction belts engaging theperiphery of the web roll to tension the web drawn therefrom, a pilotroller connected to one end of the friction belts, a motor controlled bythe pilot roller and connected to the other end of the belts, and manualmeans for controlling the motor.

21. Web tension and controlling means including in combination means forrotatably supporting a rotatable web roll, friction belts engaging theperiphery of the web roll to tension the web drawn therefrom, a pilotroller connected to one end of the friction belts, a' motor connected tothe other end of the friction belts and means controlled by the pilotroller for intermittently energizing the motor to maintain the belts incontact with the web roll while the pilot roller maintains the webtension constant.

22. Web tension and controlling means including in combination means forrotatably supporting a rotatable web roll, friction belts engaging theperiphery of the web roll to tension the web drawn therefrom, a pilotroller connected to one end of the friction belts, a motor connected tothe other end of the friction belts, means controlled by the pilotroller for intermittently energizing the motor to maintain the belts incontact with the web roll and means for manually controlling theoperation of the motor.

23. Web tension controlling means including in combination means forrotatably supporting a web roll, friction belts engaging the-peripheryof the web roll to tension the web drawn therefrom, a pilot rollerconnected to one end of the friction belts to vary termittentlyenergizing the web` roll positioning means, whereby the belts aremaintained in contact with the web roll and the web tension ismaintained constant. In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspecification.

HARLAND FANKBONER.

the pressure between the belts and theweb A roll to maintain the tensionconstant and means controlled by the pilot roller for variablypositioning the web roll to maintain the friction belts in contact withthe web roll.

24. Web tension controlling means including in combination means forrotatably supporting a web roll, friction belts engaging web drawntherefrom, a pilot roller connect-` ed to one end of the friction belts,means controlled by the pilot roller for variably positioning the webroll to maintain the friction belts in contact with the web roll, andmanually controlled means for energizing the motor to slacken the belts.

25. Web tension controlling means including in combination means forrotatably supporting a web roll. friction belts engaging the peripheryof the web roll to tension the web drawn therefrom, a pilot rollerconnect'- ed to one end of the friction belts, means for variablypositioning the web roll and means controlled by the pilot roller forinthe periphery7 of the web roll to tension the

